The perfect blend of good food, wine, service, and atmosphere

The vibe

The crowd

The drinks

The food

Our Review

Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived.Bar de Pla has that quintessentially old-school tapas bar feel, with its mix of barstool seating, informal wooden tables and chairs, and Barcelona-style hydraulic tiles on the floor. The atmosphere is jovial and very informal—just the way a real tapas bar should be.

What was the crowd like?Open all day and popular with locals and visitors alike, Bar de Pla is one of those places that stays busy from noon 'til midnight.

What should we be drinking?Bar de Pla takes its wines very seriously; the list is expertly steered by sommelier Sergi Ruiz, who is always on hand to impart his knowledge about locally produced, organic, biodynamic, and natural bottles. Don't hesitate to ask for a pairing to accompany your tapas; just tell Sergi what you’re into and let his creativity run wild.

Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.If you ask a group of Barcelonians to name their favorite tapas bars, one spot that will come up over and over again is Bar de Pla. And for good reason; it's one of a few places that has managed to nail the mix of friendly service, high-quality, affordable food, good wine, and a laid-back atmosphere. The cooking is seasonal and fresh, so it’s worth checking out the daily specials in addition to bestsellers like the squid-ink croquettes, the mushroom carpaccio with wasabi vinaigrette, and the Iberian pork blade.

And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?Barcelona tapas bars don’t have a great reputation for their service, but Bar del Pla is one of the exceptions. Although the place is always packed, the servers never seem stressed and always have time for their guests.

What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here?Head over with a group of friends and order everything on the menu to share. Just bear in mind that Bar de Pla gets very busy, so it's always best to book if you've got more than two people.